Protests spread to Australia as furore over anti-Islam film deepens

Violent clashes after 500 demonstrators mass outside the US consulate in
Sydney, while protests in Tunisia leave three dead and 28 injured.

11:44AM BST 15 Sep 2012

A group of around 500 people took part in a protest in Sydney in front of the US consulate, surprising shoppers and catching police off guard as they demonstrated against the release of an obscure US-made film which they say is blasphemous and an insult to Islam.

The demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans in defence of the Prophet Mohammad.

Several streets were closed as the protesters clashed with police, throwing bottles and rubbish. The police responded with dogs and pepper spray.

In Tunisia, at least three people died and scores others were wounded after hundreds of protesters attacked the U.S. embassy in the capital Tunis.

Police fired tear gas as protesters attempted to force their way past riot police into the embassy.

The protesters smashed windows, hurled petrol bombs and stones at police from inside the embassy. A black plume of smoke rose from the facility, and fire could be seen blazing from a vehicle inside the embassy.

Neighbouring Algeriawas also the scene of unrest. Members of the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) were at the forefront of demonstrations in Algiers, waving posters and chanting slogans as they marched along the streets of the capital.